pc thinks it's a laptop with poor resolution

ccleigh

Honorable
Nov 14, 2013
4
0
10,510
I have a dual boot, Windows XP, Linux Mint, custom built desktop (built by my ex about 4 years ago). For the past few months, when I boot, I get vertical lines on the boot screens and it will only boot with a resolution of 1024x768 and the set up of the screen is different in linux (like a laptop and not a desktop). When I try to change the resolution in either operating system, it won't let me, saying it's a laptop and that 1024x768 is the highest available resolution.

Occasionally it'll boot up normally, then the next boot will be back to poor resolution. I have tried to troubleshoot it in Windows and it says that my NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS won't start. It also won't let me uninstall, saying that it's necessary for booting.

I took out the graphics card and couldn't see anything wrong with it - no pins missing in any of the cords or plugins. Could this be as simple as a faulty cord to the monitor? Do I need a new graphics card?
 
Solution
So can you borrow a GPU ? If so then try with it. If not then I am afraid there is no way to test.

You can try a new cable or can try to update the graphics driver. And you wouldn't find any fault by looking at the GPU physically, if its faulty then it must have internal faults. Anyways can you see any Capacitors bulging or looks like exploding, it could be the problem.

BTW the GPU is old enough and it may fail or failed already. See what you can manage. Keep us posted. Good luck.

ccleigh

Honorable
Nov 14, 2013
4
0
10,510


I don't think I have a VGA port on my motherboard (GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P), so no.

 
So can you borrow a GPU ? If so then try with it. If not then I am afraid there is no way to test.

You can try a new cable or can try to update the graphics driver. And you wouldn't find any fault by looking at the GPU physically, if its faulty then it must have internal faults. Anyways can you see any Capacitors bulging or looks like exploding, it could be the problem.

BTW the GPU is old enough and it may fail or failed already. See what you can manage. Keep us posted. Good luck.
 
Solution

ccleigh

Honorable
Nov 14, 2013
4
0
10,510
I tried a new cable and tried to update the drivers, no joy. This weekend I'll try out someone else's graphics card, hopefully it'll work and I'll just have to get a new one.

Thank for your suggestions!